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James van der Beek made a surprising virtual appearance at Dawson’s Creek Reunion Charity event on Monday, September 22nd, after dropping out of illness before.
The 48-year-old van derbiek was unable to attend a charity event held at the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York City, but he appeared in a predicted, pre-recorded video on stage. In the video, the actor thanked fans for purchasing tickets for the event and featured Lin Manuel Miranda as his research.
“I’ve been looking forward to tonight for months ever since Angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together,” van der Beek began. “I can’t believe I’m not there, I can’t believe I can’t see the castmates.
He continued. “And I want to stand at that stage and thank each and every one of the theatres for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everything and being generous, especially from the last one, you’re the best fan in the world.”
“Thank you for coming. I’m absolutely humbled at how much you did this night and I just want to say thank you. I’m grateful to everyone here,” he said. “And obviously, in Dawson Creek, I wasn’t understood, but this is a problem… And we were trying to find someone who has never studied at this theatre.”
Courtesy Rick Slusher
He then introduced Miranda, an alternative to the event. Miranda joked that his kids would consider “upgrades.”
A post on Instagram shared on Sunday, September 21st, wrote that one day before the one-night-only charity event – the 48-year-old actor assured his fans that he had “Indodudy” after developing two different gastric viruses.
Van der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, said she will still be attending with the couple’s children. “It was important to him!!” she wrote.
During the event, Kimberly and the couple’s kids joined the cast on stage to sing “I Don’t Wait Thy Wait Wait Wait Wait,” which served as the theme song for the show.
Cast of the beloved WB teen drama series including Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Pale, John Wesley Ship, Mary Margaret Humes, Nina Smith, Meredith Monroe and the busy Phillips – Cancer last year.
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Dawson alumni Jason Moore directed the event produced by Carl Ogawa, Moore, Williams, Thomas Kyle, Maggie Bloune, Kevin Williamson and Greg Berlanti. The original show aired for six seasons from 1998 to 2003, addressing key topics in the age genre.
Van der Beek was candid about her cancer journey after announcing her diagnosis in November 2024.
While talking about her health journey to people in November 2024, Van Der Beek said she felt good and that she was experiencing something similar to others.
“Miracles happen – and they happen all the time,” he said. “It’s scary at first. It’s overwhelming. Let’s go easy on our own. I got this.”
“I’m really blessed with my wife and children,” he added. “I have a lot to live, and it’s a beautiful life.”
